In a series of significant developments, Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent diplomatic efforts to advance Gaza ceasefire talks faced skepticism from Egyptian officials regarding Hamas's willingness to accept a proposed agreement. The discussions are set to continue in Cairo tomorrow, highlighting the ongoing complexities of the situation in the region.

Meanwhile, health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo reported over 1,000 new mpox cases in the past week, underscoring an urgent need for vaccines as the country grapples with a major outbreak. Congo has accounted for more than 90% of Africa's reported cases this year. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the outbreak as a global health emergency, prompting pledges from Western nations and Japan for several hundred thousand vaccine doses. However, Congo's health minister emphasized that the nation requires approximately 3 million doses to effectively manage the crisis.

In Italy, recovery efforts continue following the tragic sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily. Divers have discovered five additional bodies, bringing the total recovery count to 15, while one person remains missing. Authorities suspect that the yacht, registered under a British flag, was struck by a waterspout, raising questions about the rapidity of its sinking.

On the international front, Russian officials reported that Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow since the onset of the invasion in 2022. Russia claims to have intercepted 45 drones, including eleven over the capital, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.